ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The new coach of the Buffalo Bills is doing his best to fit in as a Buffalonian.

Rex Ryan made his first public appearance in Western New York on Tuesday night, accompanying Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly to the Big Tree Inn down the block from Ralph Wilson Stadium, before making his way to a Buffalo Sabres game.

“The beer was cold,” Ryan quipped at his introductory news conference Wednesday.

Said Kelly: “He’s one of us already.”

Fired after six seasons as the New York Jets coach, Ryan is returning to an area he spent much time in as a child. His father, Buddy Ryan, was an assistant coach for the University at Buffalo from 1962-68, and Ryan would frequently come down from his home in Toronto to attend Bills games at War Memorial Stadium.

“I understand the history of the AFL history and the history of this franchise,” Ryan said.

Ryan also understands the passion Buffalo fans have for football, and their impatience with a once-proud organization that has not made the playoffs in 15 years.

“I’m not going to let our fans down,” Ryan said. “The Buffalo Bills represent the community of Buffalo. We are going to be tough. We are going to be as loyal to our fans as they are to us. … We are going to earn the respect that the fans give us.”

Ryan stopped short of guaranteeing the Bills would win the Super Bowl, as he had done in the past with the Jets.

“I’ll tell you what I’ll guarantee. I will guarantee the pursuit of it,” Ryan said.

Ryan replaces Doug Marrone, who coached the Bills to a 9-7 record — their highest win total in 10 years — in his second season before opting out of his contract.

“This football team deserves a loyal coach and deserves loyal players,” Ryan said. “Nobody is more loyal than me is a football coach.”

Ryan will replace defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz with former Jets coordinator Dennis Thurman, citing philosophical differences. The Bills had the fourth-ranked defense in the NFL last season and led the league in sacks.

“Fourth is a little disappointing,” Ryan said. “I know we will lead the league in defense.”

Former San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman will run the Bills’ offense, which Ryan indicated will be run-oriented.

“Are we going to do ground and pound? Yeah, we are going to do that,” Ryan said. “We are going to build a bully and we are going to see if you want to play us for 60 minutes.”

Ryan inherits a team with a strong defense and an offense inhibited by inconsistent quarterback play — similar to the situation he faced throughout his tenure in New York.

E.J. Manuel, the Bills’ first-round draft choice in 2013, was benched after four games last season in favor of Kyle Orton, who has since retired. The only other quarterback on the roster is Jeff Tuel, who spent last season on the practice squad after playing in two games as a rookie in 2013.

Ryan said he is still evaluating the quarterback position, but that Manuel has traits he likes. Ryan also acknowledged he needs to do a better job “building a quarterback” than he did with the Jets.

General manager Doug Whaley, who led the coaching search and will continue to have autonomy over the 53-man roster, said the Bills will acquire another quarterback or two to compete with Manuel.

The Bills interviewed more than a dozen head-coaching candidates, ranging from young coordinators to veterans like Ryan and two-time Super Bowl champion Mike Shanahan.

Owner Terry Pegula, who purchased the Bills for a record $1.4 billion in October, said he ultimately decided “we should go the veteran route.”

“Looking at our team at 9-7 and, I think, two plays away from being 11-5, I thought we needed to go to somebody who has done it before,” Pegula said. “New coaches generally fail in their first job.”

Ryan compiled a 46-50 regular-season record with the Jets and a 4-2 mark in the playoffs. He was fired after four consecutive losing seasons, but rejected the notion that his sub-.500 record defines his coaching ability.

“I am not a mediocre coach,” Ryan said, “and anybody who thinks so, I would challenge them.”

Still, Ryan knows he has to win in Buffalo to prove his worth.

“I have one more shot to be a head coach,” he said. “I understand I won’t get another opportunity and I don’t want another opportunity. I have to get it done.

“I know it’s been 15 years since the Bills made the playoffs. But get ready. We’re going.”